Men should not have friends. At least that’s what Friendship, the black comedy starring Paul Rudd and Tim Robinson, suggests.
In the film, Craig (Robinson), is a slightly awkward suburban dad who meets his neighbour, Austin (Rudd). At first, the friendship flourishes – Austin even invites Craig to a gathering with his other male friends. But Craig becomes increasingly over-invested in the friendship, pushing further and further until the relationship completely fractures.
Building new male friendships isn’t always a walk in the park. Just ask Tim Robinson (left). Credit: Fifth Season
Directed by Andrew DeYoung, the storyline is extreme, but it still explores a question many men have likely pondered at some point: Why is it so challenging to make friends with other men?
It largely depends on how they’ve been raised, says Integrated Way relationship counselling specialist Daniel Lichtman. Many, particularly those in western cultures, are taught early on to be more emotionally contained and task-oriented rather than relationship-oriented.
“Many men don’t necessarily seek out a relationship for the sake of having a relationship,” he says. “When men are struggling, they’re less likely to reach out to a friend for connection because they often feel more shame and embarrassment in vulnerability than women.”
Tim Robinson isn’t the only one who struggles to make new friends. It turns out it’s a growing problem among men.
Instead, many opt for “going at it alone”, Lichtman says. It’s a pattern of behaviour that appears to be getting worse. In 1990, 55 pe
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